Gods of Truth and Justice Scenario

[Caracasus]

So I'm some sort of powerful god thing in this scenario? Alright. Okay then, I'm gonna bugger off to some other part of the cosmos, find or create a pretty chilled out planet without much in the way of problems and live there as a semi-contactable guiding genius loci thing in case there's a massive natural disaster or whatnot. Otherwise I'll just chill out and enjoy the paradise world I made.

there are divine rules that govern what life you can or can't create and how it has to be done, if you do that, then you would in effect start the war against the Gods

not to mention limits to your power and some rules of free will stuff prevent utopias from being truly created

the idea is that the Supreme Creator wanted humanity to have a special place in the universe and the rules are fairly narrow minded about what can/can't be done (which was one of the reasons you decided to take charge instead of playing with the team in the first war)

In that case I will work out what I can and teach the mortals how to kill gods.

[Infected Mushroom]

there are divine rules that govern what life you can or can't create and how it has to be done, if you do that, then you would in effect start the war against the Gods

not to mention limits to your power and some rules of free will stuff prevent utopias from being truly created

the idea is that the Supreme Creator wanted humanity to have a special place in the universe and the rules are fairly narrow minded about what can/can't be done (which was one of the reasons you decided to take charge instead of playing with the team in the first war)

In that case I will work out what I can and teach the mortals how to kill gods.

The Gods sound too self righteous or?

[Danceria]

Why be a legend or a king...when you could become a God?
I reject your rules of reality and go with the fourth option!

[Sophisticated horrors]

Since I had very good reasons to do, whatever I might have done in the first time (and, as I presume, those haven't changed in the meantime), how could there be any other way for me than choosing option three ?
Not out of a thirst for revenge or something alike (as a real god and supreme being I am and should be high above such "human" feelings), nor do or would I fear my final and eternal extinction, since I might (and must) have calculated and predicted this as a result of my former actions, which didn't stop me the first time.
Nevertheless I´d make it better this time (I had 8000 years to plan ahead, and nothing else that distracted me), so since I almost won last time, this time I will win.
And then, since the other gods are supreme beings like me, although less "godly" (wise, intelligent, omnipotent, powerful, whatever), they must have predicted my further behaviour and also planned ahead (i.e. "showing mercy" in expectation of a "rematch"), if not, they are no gods - like me - , only extremly powerful (maybe demi-human/demi-god) beings.
I will wage war, I will win, and, since I´m assumed to act in the interest of "humankind" as well as the whole "creation" (which includes the whole world, not only "humans"), I might rule in some (for a human brain) very strange seeming ways, in which "mass extinction" (reduction of the human population to 1/10th or 1/20th), for example, is justified and correct.
There will be no such thing as "mercy", but real and unbiased justice, for humans as well as for the other gods (or so-called "gods").

[Caracasus]

In that case I will work out what I can and teach the mortals how to kill gods.

The Gods sound too self righteous or?

Nah. They come across as a bunch of jumped up, petty pricks. It's abundantly clear that under their guidance things have actually gotten worse for people in the last 8000 years or there'd be no support for this new war. Best be done with them all and start again really.

[Infected Mushroom]

The Gods sound too self righteous or?

Nah. They come across as a bunch of jumped up, petty pricks. It's abundantly clear that under their guidance things have actually gotten worse for people in the last 8000 years or there'd be no support for this new war. Best be done with them all and start again really.

I was thinking that you could go around promising people powers and sowing discord and discontent first

Kind of like a Judeo Christian devil

I was so so so tempted to include a Dracula regeneration cycle gig in this but couldn’t fit it in (ex every century you’d come back after being destroyed and generations of mortal heroes backed by the Creator would put you down again and again)

[Ifreann]

I can't imagine why you think that.


If you're asking me to pretend to be a completely different person with totally different values then you aren't really asking what I would do.

You're you except you've done the things in the hypothetical. Now that you're in the present, what do you do next?

That's usually how its intended to operate.

Except I never would have done those things.

[Infected Mushroom]

You're you except you've done the things in the hypothetical. Now that you're in the present, what do you do next?

That's usually how its intended to operate.

Except I never would have done those things.

So you cannot be corrupted by power?

[Ifreann]

Except I never would have done those things.

So you cannot be corrupted by power?

So you're saying that I am supposed to pretend to have totally different values and principles?

[Esternial]

Throw myself in the Eternal Flames.

Anything else is dishonorable and pathetic. I'm no pathetic God.

Eh?

But why do that?

I wouldn't have surrendered. You can't start going on about pride and shit when you basically groveled for your life. You're a supreme God - desperation and fear is for the weak.

The others Gods are right when calling such a God a mistake. No pride, no honor. Weak.

[Infected Mushroom]

Eh?

But why do that?

I wouldn't have surrendered. You can't start going on about pride and shit when you basically groveled for your life. You're a supreme God - desperation and fear is for the weak.

The others Gods are right when calling such a God a mistake. No pride, no honor. Weak.

basically, you thought you could win, you were supremely confident in your abilities and you were on the verge of winning

then these other Gods attacked, you miscalculated a couple of moves with your armies and your powers...

BOOM they all show up

And since you don't want to be thrown into eternal damnation, you temporarily break down and beg for mercy because you're suddenly terrified (having never lost in your life before)

this is a MASSIVE break down on the scale of kneeling in front of them, repenting everything, and asking for mercy and forgiveness with complete terror

it could happen to anyone so...

it looks bad but they pitied you and let you remain as a functional entity

Now the issue is whether or not you want to double cross them again the fact (though of course, you can expect that this time if defeated, they're not going to fall for this again); or whether you're going to really stick to this repentance (because what is past is past) or else not rebel because its not worth the risk

[Infected Mushroom]

So you cannot be corrupted by power?

So you're saying that I am supposed to pretend to have totally different values and principles?

not necessarily

your core values can remain the same though you have to try and take into account your different upraising and power status

[Esternial]

I wouldn't have surrendered. You can't start going on about pride and shit when you basically groveled for your life. You're a supreme God - desperation and fear is for the weak.

The others Gods are right when calling such a God a mistake. No pride, no honor. Weak.

basically, you thought you could win, you were supremely confident in your abilities and you were on the verge of winning

then these other Gods attacked, you miscalculated a couple of moves with your armies and your powers...

BOOM they all show up

And since you don't want to be thrown into eternal damnation, you temporarily break down and beg for mercy because you're suddenly terrified (having never lost in your life before)

this is a MASSIVE break down on the scale of kneeling in front of them, repenting everything, and asking for mercy and forgiveness with complete terror

it could happen to anyone so...

it looks bad but they pitied you and let you remain as a functional entity

Now the issue is whether or not you want to double cross them again the fact (though of course, you can expect that this time if defeated, they're not going to fall for this again); or whether you're going to really stick to this repentance (because what is past is past) or else not rebel because its not worth the risk

If you break down, even temporarily, you're weak and not deserving of the title of most powerful God. You could just as well be a lowly mortal swine.

[Ifreann]

So you're saying that I am supposed to pretend to have totally different values and principles?

not necessarily

your core values can remain the same though you have to try and take into account your different upraising and power status

Starting a war to conquer the world is contrary to my core values.

[Infected Mushroom]

basically, you thought you could win, you were supremely confident in your abilities and you were on the verge of winning

then these other Gods attacked, you miscalculated a couple of moves with your armies and your powers...

BOOM they all show up

And since you don't want to be thrown into eternal damnation, you temporarily break down and beg for mercy because you're suddenly terrified (having never lost in your life before)

this is a MASSIVE break down on the scale of kneeling in front of them, repenting everything, and asking for mercy and forgiveness with complete terror

it could happen to anyone so...

it looks bad but they pitied you and let you remain as a functional entity

Now the issue is whether or not you want to double cross them again the fact (though of course, you can expect that this time if defeated, they're not going to fall for this again); or whether you're going to really stick to this repentance (because what is past is past) or else not rebel because its not worth the risk

If you break down, even temporarily, you're weak and not deserving of the title of most powerful God. You could just as well be a lowly mortal swine.

On some level, I agree with you and I can see where your coming from.

But I'm using the word "God" in this hypothetical in the sense that you are immortal (against almost everything) and operate on a power level far above that of anything else on the planet. It's a statement about your power level and capabilities (and your age relative to the universe). It's got nothing to do with how brave, righteous, or honourable you are.

Your character in this hypothetical is intended to be a bit of a villainous character. And it is a common trope (especially in my threads) for many of these villainous type characters to display a lack of courage when defeated; its a bit of a recurring theme.

Do you operate with a different definition of Godhood?

[Infected Mushroom]

not necessarily

your core values can remain the same though you have to try and take into account your different upraising and power status

Starting a war to conquer the world is contrary to my core values.

okay but is it possible for you to sometimes act contrary to your core values?

everyone has lapses in judgement right?

[Infected Mushroom]

So to help some people place themselves into this situation in the OP:

You are not you (some regular citizen of a nation that has to go to school or earn a wage and can't really do anything important/world changing, fight anyone and who must answer to the law and the weaknesses of the flesh and die a probably unexceptional death).

You are an extremely powerful entity that has existed since the dawn of creation.

You answered to no one except the Supreme Creator (who you recognise as more powerful) and he's gone. And since he was like one of those pretty distant but still controlling cold personalities... you can expect that you didn't receive a great deal of guidance growing up. So when he goes and you're left with these mortals (who you consider, correctly, to be a bunch of sinful morons) and the other Gods (who you have a hard time respecting because none of them can think outside of the box or match your power)...

You decide its time to change things.

Now its entirely NATURAL under such a situation, to develop maybe a pretty large or sizeable ego and not a whole lot of self restraint. I mean basically once the Supreme Creator is gone you are the next big person in town. And I mean its not like the Supreme Creator set the best example either.

If a mortal were to behave in this way we might say they have a God complex or some form of delusions of grandeur but the thing is... in this scenario YOU ARE A GOD. Which means you can literally move mountains and do stuff that's completely impossible otherwise. Its possible that because you experience no limits until your defeat, you are in fact better described as a teenager (with a teenage sized ego) that happens to be some tens-hundreds of thousands of years old and wields some incomprehensible mass of power. There are rules that limit your power but these are metaphysical and strange God rules enforced by the framework set by the Creator, not laws of men enforced by uniforms.

Clearly, you wouldn't have to struggle for money, study to get high grades, lust after people, or deal with the frailties of the body. So MAYBE you wouldn't have developed a very thick skin so that you can be exploited, bullied, rejected, and used... you don't have quite the same... CHARACTER that is required to properly conform to the norms of mortal livelihood.

If some mortal looks at you the wrong way you can simply kill him or else bend him to your will. Do you see how that kind of power may corrupt?

Your concerns are more... cosmic and ego driven, whatever that might mean.

Now clearly, there's a bit of You in this scenario but there's also certain factors that may lead you to behave differently because you are not bound by the same rules and limits that we mortals must contend with.

Try to imagine that.

So then... I'm the bad guy?

tbh I sound like a pretty unlikable character

In a sense, you are correct

However, everyone is a product of their environment.

I mean, you are blessed (or cursed) with this inordinate power and a massive ego that goes with it. It's easy to get carried away.

You started a war of aggression, killed several millions, had to beg for your life to be allowed to go on, and now the choice is yours on how to proceed.

You can double-cross those who showed you mercy or you can truly embrace your repentance (to the best of your ability, not all of us are capable of such positive thinking).

What you do hereafter is up to you.

[DACOROMANIA]

Why to face an "eternal punishment" ??? It's too worse. So, you can avoid that. How? simple enough. The universe is so large and big that you can form your own house to an outer planet than this one. An empty planet. You're terraforming it then ask for those who will follow you there. You'll have your own planet and your own home to dominate it without bad consequences.
Choose option 1 or 2.
Pay your debts to those who suffered from your wars. Guide them to good path. And those who want different may go to your outer planet under your leadership away from this one.
But let this one planet in safe.

[Ifreann]

Starting a war to conquer the world is contrary to my core values.

okay but is it possible for you to sometimes act contrary to your core values?

everyone has lapses in judgement right?

You can't start a massive war because of a lapse in judgement.

[Infected Mushroom]

Why to face an "eternal punishment" ??? It's too worse. So, you can avoid that. How? simple enough. The universe is so large and big that you can form your own house to an outer planet than this one. An empty planet. You're terraforming it then ask for those who will follow you there. You'll have your own planet and your own home to dominate it without bad consequences.
Choose option 1 or 2.
Pay your debts to those who suffered from your wars. Guide them to good path. And those who want different may go to your outer planet under your leadership away from this one.
But let this one planet in safe.

You could, so long as you obeyed general and specific restrictions from the other Gods.

I mean, as far as the total share of creation goes, they've allocated a very small portion to you (vastly disproportional to your true abilities, power, and actual intelligence and effectiveness). So I guess for some people, this may lead to a bit of resentment.

This is perhaps a more logical and reasonable path to go down but not everyone can do it. Because you will not be able to wipe out those smug self-satisfied faces and they will consider themselves superior to you in all respects for perhaps all of eternity.

The glory of revenge will be denied to you lest you wage another world war. If you can put down your pride, hatred, and resentment and deal with this continued condescension/ill treatment from the others, then I suppose it makes sense.

Option 1 and 2 are objectively speaking, perhaps better options. It's just that not everyone will settle.

For some, the burning wounds of 8,000 years of imprisonment, being humiliated, and being put in a situation where you have to throw yourself down before your enemies and beg to be spared... plus the ensuring disgrace and ill treatment/passive aggressiveness... is going to lead to a huge wound.

A wound that only be closed by an attempt to strike back, however great the risks.

For others perhaps, they yearn to fulfil their true potential and see the other Gods as being in the way of that.

[Infected Mushroom]

okay but is it possible for you to sometimes act contrary to your core values?

everyone has lapses in judgement right?

You can't start a massive war because of a lapse in judgement.

oh but why not?

[The New California Republic]

okay but is it possible for you to sometimes act contrary to your core values?

everyone has lapses in judgement right?

You can't start a massive war because of a lapse in judgement.

Sure you can. I do it in Stellaris all the time.

[Infected Mushroom]

Its really interesting to me that Option 3 is proving to be most popular choice.

This is most unexpected.

[Ifreann]

You can't start a massive war because of a lapse in judgement.

oh but why not?

Because waging war on the scale you describe is not something that can just happen over the space of a few minutes. You can't have a lapse in judgement that lasts for years.

[DACOROMANIA]

Why to face an "eternal punishment" ??? It's too worse. So, you can avoid that. How? simple enough. The universe is so large and big that you can form your own house to an outer planet than this one. An empty planet. You're terraforming it then ask for those who will follow you there. You'll have your own planet and your own home to dominate it without bad consequences.
Choose option 1 or 2.
Pay your debts to those who suffered from your wars. Guide them to good path. And those who want different may go to your outer planet under your leadership away from this one.
But let this one planet in safe.

You could, so long as you obeyed general and specific restrictions from the other Gods.

I mean, as far as the total share of creation goes, they've allocated a very small portion to you (vastly disproportional to your true abilities, power, and actual intelligence and effectiveness). So I guess for some people, this may lead to a bit of resentment.

This is perhaps a more logical and reasonable path to go down but not everyone can do it. Because you will not be able to wipe out those smug self-satisfied faces and they will consider themselves superior to you in all respects for perhaps all of eternity.

The glory of revenge will be denied to you lest you wage another world war. If you can put down your pride, hatred, and resentment and deal with this continued condescension/ill treatment from the others, then I suppose it makes sense.

Option 1 and 2 are objectively speaking, perhaps better options. It's just that not everyone will settle.

For some, the burning wounds of 8,000 years of imprisonment, being humiliated, and being put in a situation where you have to throw yourself down before your enemies and beg to be spared... plus the ensuring disgrace and ill treatment/passive aggressiveness... is going to lead to a huge wound.

A wound that only be closed by an attempt to strike back, however great the risks.

For others perhaps, they yearn to fulfil their true potential and see the other Gods as being in the way of that.

You speak of the other Gods. But not the path of the Creator. The Creator didn't provoke that.

I understand such wound. The difference is that that is a personal one between 2 sides. The universe don't need to pay a big risk of destruction just because of some beings.

If I had godly powers I may had be better than the X-men's Jean Grey superhero with such abilities. And I know also that not all are worthy enough for a revenge.

If you intend to rebel again with a disaster to mankind then first give me Godly power and I'll go somewhere far away to create a very good civilization outside of your wars made by emotions.

I'm a bit dual. I can choose option 2. Then I will succeed to prove being better than others. And that I learn from mistakes for not falling again.
Emotions are sometimes illogical.

However, IF they will consider themselves superior to you in all respects for perhaps all of eternity then I will remind them that they may be close to become corrupted just because of their pride.

Fantasy speaking: "I was one of you and equal with you. I made what I made but I repented. So beware of those who don't remind where the pride goes for. Everyone can fall not only me. So look careful before to judge. Otherwise you may be the next who fall."